“Government of Canada is deferring the filing due date for the 2019 tax returns of individuals.

For individuals (other than trusts), the return filing due date will be deferred until June 1, 2020.

The Government will also allow any new income tax balances due, or instalments, to be deferred until after August 31, 2020 without incurring interest or penalties.”

Note: If you expect to receive benefits under the Goods and Services Tax credit or the Canada Child Benefit, we encourage you to not delay your 2019 return filing to ensure that your entitlements are properly determined.

“Canadian banks have committed to work with their customers on a case-by-case basis to find solutions to help them manage hardships caused by COVID-19. Canadians who are impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing financial hardship as a result should contact their financial institution regarding flexibility for a mortgage deferral. This allows flexibility to be available − when needed − to those who need it the most.

Contact your financial institution for further mortgage assistance.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and other mortgage insurers offer tools to lenders that can assist homeowners who may be experiencing financial difficulty. These include payment deferral, loan re-amortization, capitalization of outstanding interest arrears and other eligible expenses, and special payment arrangements.

Canada’s mortgage insurers are committed to providing homeowners with solutions to mitigate temporary financial hardship related to COVID-19. This includes permitting lenders to defer up to six monthly mortgage payments (interest and principal) for impacted borrowers. Deferred payments are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.”

“The Province of Ontario is offering the lowest electricity rate, known as the off-peak rate, 24 hours a day, for the next 45 days. This is extended to all residential, farm and small business use.

Providing $9 million in direct support to families for their energy bills by expanding eligibility for the Low‐income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and by ensuring that their electricity and natural gas services are not disconnected for nonpayment during the COVID‐19 outbreak.”

“Effective March 30, we are placing a six-month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans for all student loan borrowers. No payment will be required, and interest will not accrue during this time.

To help support the response to COVID-19, the Government has set up a jobs bank to help connect workers to employers in the essential services. There are opportunities for essential workplaces posted in our community.

Travel:

“For travelers arriving in Canada:

Federal and provincial public health leaders have recommended that all travelers from outside of Canada self-isolate for 14 days. These efforts will contribute to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

Upon return to Canada:

You will be asked if you have a cough, difficulty breathing or fever. If you have any of these symptoms, you will be given instructions on the next steps you are required to take. If you do not have any of these symptoms, you will be asked to do the following:

Self-isolate for 14 days after your return to Canada. Some provinces and territories may have specific recommendations for certain groups such as health care workers. Self-isolate means:

stay home and keep your distance from others

do do not have visitors, especially older adults, or those with medical conditions who are at a higher risk of developing serious illness

Monitor your health for cough, fever or difficulty breathing.

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing.

If you develop a cough, fever or difficulty breathing within 14 days:

Continue to isolate yourself from others

Immediately call a health care professional or public health authority and:

describe your symptoms and travel history

follow their instructions carefully

Exemptions

The continued global movement of goods and people and the ongoing delivery of essential services will be important for Canada’s response to COVID-19.

Consequently, an exemption to the request to self-isolate for 14 days should be provided to workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people. For example, this exemption would apply to:

healthy workers in the trade and transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods and people across the border, such as truck drivers and crew on any plane, train or marine vessel crossing the border

healthy people who have to cross the border to go to work, including health care providers and critical infrastructure workers

Workers in these sectors should:

practice social distancing (maintain a distance of 2 metres from others)

closely self-monitor

self-isolate should they exhibit any symptoms

It is recommended that employers in these sectors conduct active daily monitoring of their staff for COVID-19 symptoms (checking for cough, fever or shortness of breath).Be aware that local public health authorities at the workers’ point of destination in Canada may have specific requirements. For example, for those working in the health care sector and others who are likely to come into close contact with high-risk groups for COVID-19.

Avoid all non-essential travel

To limit the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Canada advises that you avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.

Many countries have put in place travel or border restrictions and other measures such as movement restrictions and quarantines.

Airlines have cancelled flights. New restrictions may be imposed with little warning. Your travel plans may be severely disrupted and you may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected.

If you have plans to travel, contact your airline or tour operator to determine options for cancelling or postponing your trip.

Canadians who are outside of Canada should find out what commercial options are still available to return to Canada and should consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited.

Making the choice to stay at home and to not travel outside of Canada is the best way to protect yourself, your family and the most vulnerable groups in our communities from the spread of COVID-19.

Although it is not advised, if you are still considering travel outside of Canada, you should do the following:

check the Pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice before travelling

know the health risks for your destination

understand the risks of your safety and security abroad

ensure that you have sufficient finances and necessities, including medication, in case your travels are disrupted

It is important to remember that if you travel abroad, you could be subject to the measures of other countries. Your one-week trip may become much longer. You may also have reduced access to quality health care.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.”

Ontario Healthcare:

Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe. The most common symptoms include:

fever

cough

difficulty breathing

muscle aches

fatigue

headache

sore throat

runny nose

Complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure, and in some cases, death.There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own.You should:

drink plenty of fluids

get rest and sleep as much as possible

try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

If you start to feel symptoms of COVID-19Anyone who begins to feel unwell (fever, new cough or difficulty breathing) should return home and self-isolate immediately.People who are self-isolating should seek clinical assessment over the phone – either by calling their primary care provider’s office or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000. If you need additional assessment, your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario will direct you to in-person care options.If you need immediate medical attention you should call 911 and mention your travel history and symptoms.

How to protect yourself

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre.

There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus, but there are actions you can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.

Everyday actions:

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:

wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

sneeze and cough into your sleeve

avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

avoid contact with people who are sick

stay home if you are sick

Physical distancing:

Everyone in Ontario should be practicing physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people.Everyone in Ontario should do their best to avoid close contact with people outside of their immediate families. Close contact includes being within two (2) meters of another person.If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms, you should begin to self-monitor for a period of 14 days. This means that, in addition to physical distancing, you should track how you feel. You should take your temperature daily and log any other symptoms that develop (for example, sore throat, new cough). You can share these records with your primary care provider over the phone if you seek assessment services.

How to self-isolate:

Self-isolating means staying at home and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease to others in your home and your community.

All persons over 70 years of age and individuals who are immunocompromised are advised to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. This means that you should only leave your home or see other people for essential reasons. Where possible, you should seek services over the phone or internet or ask for help from friends, family or neighbours with essential errands.

Small Business:

1. Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

This program will provide eligible employers with a subsidy for up to 75% of employee wages for up to 12 weeks, retroactive from March 15, 2020, to June 6, 2020. This program is designed help businesses of all sizes rehire workers and prevent further job loses.

The CRA is allowing all business to to defer, until September 1, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020. Businesses, including self-employed individuals, are also allowed to defer until June 30, 2020 payments of the GST/HST, as well as customs duty owing on their imports.

For a full list of emergency business support programs offered by the federal government: